I Had a Pdf File Open on My Computer and It Exited Out How Do I Find It Again

About businesses and organizations rely on the PDF file format when transferring documents, but they seldom know how to recover PDF files that got accidentally deleted or lost.

The purpose of this article is to bear witness that PDF recovery isn't most as complicated every bit it may seem—not if you have the correct software solution.

What Are PDF Files?

PDF files are documents saved in the Portable Document Format (PDF) – developed by Adobe in the 1990s to present documents in a consequent manner beyond a wide multifariousness of software, hardware, and operating systems.

Nowadays, the PDF file format is supported by near all devices, including:
Smartphones,
Laptops,
Desktop computers.

Good to know!

Since the release of the first version of the PDF file format, Adobe Systems has released multiple new versions to add additional features.

For example, in 1996, version 1.two of the PDF file format was released, introducing interactive page elements, fill-in forms, and other of import features.

The file format was standardized past the International System for Standardization (ISO) in 2008 and afterward again in 2017, which firmly secured its identify as ane of the almost important file formats in the world.

Despite beingness around for such a long time, the PDF file format still doesn't provide a mode how to recover PDF files that got lost, deleted, or became corrupted. Fortunately, there are more than a few data recovery tools that can assist you recover PDF files from your hard drive or any other storage device.

Can PDF Files Be Recovered?

Yes, PDF files tin typically be recovered, merely y'all demand to equip yourself with the best PDF recovery software to achieve the chore successfully. Yous likewise need to accept certain precautions to pave the way for successful PDF document recovery.

Nigh people want to recover PDF files that got accidentally deleted without anyone noticing. The average office worker has files scattered all over his or her desktop, so it'south no wonder that of import PDF files sometimes end up in the Recycle Bin. In near cases, they remain in the Recycle Bin until the person responsible attempts to apply the Recent File feature in Adobe Reader, Adobe Acrobat, or some other PDF reader, simply to find that the file in question is no longer accessible.

How to Recover Deleted PDF Files

Way one. Recycle Bin

If the PDF file is still in the recycling bin, the recovery is straightforward.

To recover deleted PDF file from the Recycle Bin:

Open the Recycle Bin past double-clicking its icon on the Desktop.
Locate and then select the PDF file y'all need to restore.
Right-click or tap-and-concur on the selection and then choose Restore.

In the glimmer of an eye, you should see the PDF file magically announced in its original location, which y'all can see if y'all're viewing Recycle Bin in "details" view.

Mode 2. Restore from Previous Backup

It'south a benign practice to create more than than one backup of your file across all your devices and keep updating them regularly. This way, in case your data gets lost or deleted, yous wouldn't accept to think twice earlier turning to your fill-in to recover it. Similarly, if y'all've lost your PDF file, y'all can restore it easily from a previously saved backup.

Moreover, you can create backups on various internal and external storage devices similar USB, hard drives, etc. You could likewise save them on a cloud storage solution.

Style three. Information Recovery Software

Only what if the Recycle Bin has already been emptied? In that case, only a capable information recovery tool can aid yous get your deleted PDF files dorsum. One such tool is Disk Drill, and at that place are many reasons why we recommend it over other similar tools.

For starters, Disk Drill is and then piece of cake to employ that even complete technophobes should be able to instantly figure out how to recover their deleted or lost PDF files.

Disk Drill successfully hides the circuitous nature of data recovery behind a single button, and it uses powerful data recovery algorithms to reconstruct files that would exist considered unrecoverable by other information recovery tools.

It doesn't affair whether you want to recover PDF files stored on an internal hard drive, USB flash drives, or SD cards because Disk Drill tin scan and recover information from nearly any storage device.

Besides PDF files, Disk Drill can recover hundreds of other file formats, including:
Image file formats such equally JPEG, PNG, and GIF;
Sound file formats such equally WAV, MP3, and WMA;
Video file formats such as AVI, MP4, and WMV;
Document file formats such equally DOC, XLS, and RTF.

Steps to Recover Deleted PDF Files:

Visit the official website of Cleverfiles.
Click the "Costless Download" button.

Data recovery for free
Your Companion for Deleted Files Recovery

Complimentary Download
Open the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions; Launch Disk Drill
Select the drive from which you wish to recover your PDF file. At present, choose your recovery method – Quick Scan or Deep Scan.
Select which PDF files yous want Disk Drill to recover and begin the recovery process.
Finally, choose the recovery location, and y'all're all set.

As you can run into, it takes just a few uncomplicated steps to recover PDF files with Disk Drill, which is why so many users swear past it when it comes to all kinds of information recovery tasks.

To learn more than nigh information recovery with Disk Drill, we recommend you visit Disk Drill's knowledge base, where you can find in-depth data recovery tutorials. Or ameliorate yet, download the free version of Deejay Drill and see for yourself that you actually don't need a lengthy tutorial to figure out how to use information technology to recover deleted or lost PDF files.

Mode 4. Windows File History

File History is an excellent Windows feature that allows yous to restore previous versions of your files. It'south an like shooting fish in a barrel, straightforward way to help you recover your PDF file using your organization'due south in-built features. If you've lost an important PDF, yous tin can navigate to the File History selection and gain admission to your file backups.

However, y'all will take to ensure that File History is turned on for this method to work. To do this, go to the Restore files using File History option from the Windows search tab. It will direct you lot to a Control Panel, and you can turn on File History there.

Now, you tin can follow these steps to restore your PDF file with Windows File History:

Get to the binder where you had stored your PDF file.
You can search for it using the file name or go through previous versions of your files.
Now, choose the file you want to restore.
Click on the green Restore button at the bottom.

How to Recover Unsaved PDF Files

Most PDF applications, including Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat, come up with crash recovery functionality to forbid changes from existence lost after an unexpected pause, which may occur due to a power outage, hardware failure, or a unproblematic user error.

In the case of Adobe Reader, the most popular PDF awarding toolbox today, the temporary files are located in the following binder: "C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Acrobat\1X.0\AutoSave\" . Unfortunately, this is a temporary folder that gets deleted when you close Adobe Reader.

Only don't expect the temporary files to look like the original files. They may even have a completely different file extension. If they do, alter the file extension to PDF and try to open the files in Adobe Reader. If y'all're in luck, the files should open without whatever issues.

How to Repair Corrupt PDF File

PDF files sometimes become corrupted, rendering them unreadable. When y'all try to open a corrupted PDF file with Adobe Acrobat DC, you get the post-obit error message:

"Adobe Acrobat DC could not open up xyz.pdf because it is either not a supported file type or because the file has been damaged (for example, it was sent as an e-mail zipper and wasn't correctly decoded)"

To repair corrupt PDF files, nosotros recommend you apply an online PDF repair tool similar Sejda Repair PDF, which makes it possible to easily recover data from a corrupted or damaged PDF document.

If you want to recover a PDF containing sensitive information, uploading it to a third-party web server probably doesn't audio too appealing to you. In that case, you lot tin can apply Sejda PDF Desktop, which works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Decision

Information loss is quite common and tin can be quite unpredictable. Nosotros suggest that you follow certain steps like keeping multiple data backups, having a reliable data recovery tool, and making utilise of AutoSave features to go on your files safe. However, sometimes data loss situations can accept yous by surprise.

While the data recovery process can seem complicated and expensive, the methods mentioned in this article are trustworthy and piece of cake to follow. They can assistance you lot recover your PDF files in only a few uncomplicated steps without whatsoever risks or hassles. In fact, all of these methods are economical and completely rubber.

FAQ

At that place are several things you tin try to recover deleted PDF files from a pendrive:

Wait inside the Recycle Bin.
Go through your backups.
Use data recovery software.

If yous decide to use data recovery software, begin the recovery procedure as soon equally possible and minimize the utilise of the pendrive.

Mac users take several options how to recover deleted PDF files. They can:

Restore them from Trash.
Recall them from a Time Machine backup.
Recover them using Mac information recovery software.

On Windows, it'south possible to protect PDF files from accidental deletion by changing their permissions in the Properties window. Alternatively, you can dorsum up your PDF files to the cloud or use a real-fourth dimension data protection feature similar Disk Drill's Recovery Vault.

Joshua Solomon

Engineering, SaaS, and digital marketing are Joshua'due south become-to niches. He understands the need for simple and easy-to-read articles on the internet. As technologies abound in complication, guides and how-to pieces must remain com...

Read full bio

Technology, SaaS, and digital marketing are Joshua'due south go-to niches. He understands the need for elementary and like shooting fish in a barrel-to-read articles on the cyberspace. As technologies grow in complexity, guides and how-to pieces must remain com...

Read full bio

Approved by

Brett Johnson

This article has been canonical past Brett Johnson, Data Recovery Engineer at ACE Data Recovery. Brett has a Bachelor'due south Degree in Computer Systems and Network, 12 years of experience.

This article has been canonical by Brett Johnson, Data Recovery Engineer at ACE Data Recovery. Brett has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Systems and Network, 12 years of experience.

kelleyziese1971.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.cleverfiles.com/howto/recover-pdf-file-windows.html